A Graduate Student Is Trying to Isolate Bacterial MRNA for an Enzyme

question 87

Multiple Choice

A graduate student is trying to isolate bacterial mRNA for an enzyme that will degrade trinitrotoluene (TNT) . She's frustrated to find that the enzyme isn't produced when the bacterium in question is grown on nutrient agar. What might she do to solve the problem and obtain the mRNA?

• A) Add nitrogen and toluene to the agar which will drive up synthesis of TNT, leading to production of the mRNA the student is looking for.
• B) Add TNT to the agar-this will drive synthesis of the enzyme to degrade it, leading to production of the mRNA the student is looking for.
• C) Remove glucose from the agar-this will cause the bacteria to shift to other compounds for their energy purposes.
• D) Remove nitrogen and toluene from the agar which will lead to driving up synthesis of TNT, leading to production of the mRNA the student is looking for.
• E) Remove TNT from the nutrient agar; it acts as an inhibitor of all microbial growth, and prevents the bacteria from synthesizing any enzymes at all.

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